Fehr & Granger - Austin Modernists

August 15, 2017 to November 15, 2017.

Minimalist aesthetics have made a resurgence in recent years and you can see examples of midcentury modern design almost everywhere you look. The Austin History Center, in conjunction with the Austin chapter of the American Institute of Architects, presented a new exhibit, Fehr & Granger, Architects - Austin Modernists at the Austin Center for Architecture, 801 West 12th St. Fehr & Granger were some of the first architects to bring modernist architectural design to Central Texas post-World War II.

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT
Fehr & Granger, Architects was established by Arthur Fehr and Charles Granger in Austin in 1946 when the era of Mid-Century Modernism was just beginning in the United States. Both men graduated with degrees in architecture from the University of Texas before going on to further study, apprentice with well-known modernist architects, and travel throughout Europe where modernist design had an earlier start.

Upon returning to Austin, Fehr & Granger undertook a wide range of design projects including residences, churches, schools, and commercial buildings that were often featured in the design magazine Progressive Architecture and garnered them numerous awards. Unfortunately their more than twenty year partnership was tragically cut short by the death of Granger in a car accident in 1966.

The historic photos and architectural drawings in this exhibit document Fehr & Granger’s Central Texas interpretation of Modernism in buildings you might remember such as the Austin National Bank Drive-In, the Robert Mueller Airport control tower and the St. Elmo-Tel. For more information about Fehr & Granger and a preview of some of the photographs to be exhibited please see our online companion exhibit.

ABOUT THE AHC
As the local history collection of the Austin Public Library, the Austin History Center provides the public with information about the history, current events and activities of Austin and Travis County. The Center collects and preserves information about local governments, businesses, residents, institutions and neighborhoods so that generations to come will have access to their history. For more information about the Architectural Archives at the Austin History Center call 512-974-7480 or visit www.austinhistorycenter.org.